The BBC has done a deal with the International Olympics Committee for the rights to the next four Olympic Games.

 

The deal includes TV, radio and digital rights for Sochi 2014, Rio 2016, Pyeongchang 2018 as well as the 2020 Games.

 

BBC DG Mark Thompson said: “I’;m delighted that the Olympic Games will continue to be broadcast exclusively on the BBC into the 2020s. It’;s terrific news in the days before BBC Sport begins to cover the London 2012 Games and a tribute to the partnership between the BBC and the Olympic movement.”

 

Barbara Slater, Director, BBC Sport, added: “This news will come as a massive boost to our teams who are about to undertake our most ambitious sports broadcast ever at the biggest sporting event in our country”s history. The Olympic Games has always been significant as an event that brings the nation together as well as a catalyst for broadcasting innovation and we”re delighted that BBC Sport can now continue to deliver on these traditions through to 2020.”

 

Dominic Coles, COO 2012 Olympics, who negotiated the deal, said: “It’;s vital that big national and international events like the Olympic Games remain free-to-air where they can be watched by the greatest number of people. We’;re delighted to continue our partnership with the Olympics and the IOC.”

 

In total the BBC will have broadcast 33 Olympic Games after the 2020 Games, including the 16 Winter Olympics since Squaw Valley, California, USA, also in 1960.

 

At the London 2012 Olympic Games, for the first time, the BBC will be providing live coverage of every Olympic Sport from every venue throughout the day. This will amount to 2,500 hours of live Olympic action, 1,000 hours more than Beijing 2008.

 

The BBC will continue to hold Olympics rights until 2020. Who’;s working on this year’;s ceremony? Only a few days to go now!